Jewel # 177 (June 15, 2014)

“And they shall be Mine, saith the Lord of hosts, in that day when I make up MY JEWELS.”

(Malachi 3:17)

To my dear grandchildren

The Purple Martin

“The winter is past, the rain is over and gone; the flowers appear on the earth;

the time of the singing of birds is come.”

(Song of Solomon 2:11-12)

After having migrated to Central and South America for the winter, martins return each spring to North America.  Some have been seen in summer as far north as the Saskatchewan Valley in Canada.

Their forked tails, wide wings and the way they catch their food while flying identify these eight-inch birds as part of the swallow family.  There are several species, including the house martin, the sand martin and the purple martin, which is the one we will focus on. 

The males of the purple martin species are a beautiful, dark purplish-blue colour all over.  The females are much the same, but the undersides of their bodies are light coloured.  These birds nest in colonies with each pair raising three to eight young birds.

Because they are great inset eaters, catching insects from the air while in flight (including mosquitoes), purple martins have earned the friendship of farmers and people who live in the suburbs.  Some place martin houses on tall supports near their homes or barns to keep these welcome insect-eating “neighbours” nearby.  Some of these martin houses allow space for 50 nests or more.  There is an interesting trait about the martins living in these “apartment” houses.  

Most houses have adjoining balconies where the parent birds like to alight and perch before entering their own apartment.  The baby birds, not yet able to fly, sometimes hop about on these balconies.  After exploring, they forget which hole they came from and often enter a neighbour’s apartment by mistake.  Strangely enough, parent martins do not seem to be able to recognize their own chicks, and these “neighbourhood chicks” are accepted, fed and cared for as part of the family.

Although martins do not like other birds as close neighbours, house sparrows and European starlings do not share this trait.  If there is an opportunity a sparrow or starling will move into a martin pair’s apartment and chase the true owners away.  If this happened in most bird species, they would work together to keep the intruder out.  But the martin is not a fighter, so it meekly accepts the loss of its home to the thief.

Our opening verse tells us of the happy season of the year when winter’s cold, dark days are over, flowers are showing their pretty colours, and birds are returning from their migrations.  It is similar to the happy time when a boy or girl or grown-up places their trust in the Lord Jesus as their Saviour.  The dark times are left behind, and the reality of belonging to the Lord Jesus brings a joy many times happier than even the yearly return of spring.  

Have you had this experience by accepting the Lord Jesus as your Saviour?

Love you all,

Grandpa      

Jewel # 176 (May 26, 2014)

“And they shall be Mine, saith the Lord of hosts, in that day when I make up MY JEWELS.”

(Malachi 3:17)

To my dear grandchildren,

The Spectacular Humpback Whale (Part 2)

“Behold [God] spreadeth His light upon [the world],

and covereth the bottom of the sea.”

(Job 36:30)

On both the Atlantic and Pacific seacoasts, great numbers of people gather each year to watch the migrations of the humpback whales.  They sometimes see whole schools breaching (leaping into the air and and landing with a great splash), as if competing with one another.  At other times they are seen lob-tailing (standing on their heads with the rest of their bodies in the air), waving their big flukes (the lobes on their large tails) and making huge splashes when they drop back to the surface.  Frequently they lift their tails above the water and smack them down making tremendous waves.  No wonder people gather by the thousands to see these performances!

Playful by nature, like porpoises, some of these giants will play tag with a large boat for an hour or so, coming up on one side, swimming underneath and popping up on the other, to the amusement of all on board.

The 6000 mile migrations end in warm, shallow bays where the calves are born underwater.  Some of these new calves are as long as 13 feet.  Usually a female “nurse” is on hand and helps the mother push the newborn up to the surface for its first breath of fresh air.  Isn’t it amazing that the little one has been given an instinct by the Creator so that it doesn’t inhale water right after birth and drown?  After breathing in fresh air for the first time, it drops back under its mother, and, again, a God-given instinct tells it to nurse her warm, rich milk.  While nursing, it must return to the surface for air, over and over again, but each time continues its nursing util its hunger is satisfied.

The bull whales have a large number of cows and calves for which they are responsible, but when danger comes, they usually swim away, leaving the cows to take care of themselves and their calves.  That’s not very brave of them, is it?

As in the past, humpbacks are still a target for the whaling industry.  However, in 1966 a legal suspension of hunting activity was made to protect them.  Their numbers have recovered to approximately 80,000 worldwide now.

It is interesting that in the Bible where the ocean is spoken of, it says, “There is that leviathan [whale], whom Thou hast made to play therein” (Psalm104:26).  So we see that the Lord God, the Creator, intended whales to enjoy their playfulness, just as boys and girls do.  And He is pleased for children to be happy and playful, as long as they are also obedient, kind and thoughtful of others.  True happiness is one of His great gifts and comes from faith in Him and His Word which tells us, “Whoso trusteth in the Lord, happy is he” (Proverbs 16:20).  Is this true of you?

Love you all,

Grandpa    

Jewel # 175 (May 23, 2014)

“And they shall be Mine, saith the Lord of hosts,

in that day when I make up MY JEWELS.”

(Malachi 3:17)

To my dear grandchildren,

“God created great whales, and every living creature . . . which the 

waters brought forth abundantly, after their kind.”

(Genesis 1:21)

Some humpback whales are 39-52 feet long and can weigh up to 40 tons.   They may be identified by their characteristic hump-like roll of fat on their backs.  These whales are extremely strong, with large flippers 12-13 feet long, and huge, flat tails controlling their motions.  They can swim 25 miles per hour and at times dive nearly a mile below the surface.  They are also considered playful animals, as they are known for breaching (leaping into the air and landing with a great splash) and slapping the water with their tails and flippers.  

Although they seem gentle and playful, they can be dangerous too.  Anyone closing on a mother with her calf will find her quite ready to smash their small boat with a slap of her tail.

Looking down on one of these whales from above, its black back is not easy to distinguish from the dark water, and looking up from underneath, its white underparts blend with the sky.  These safeguards are provisions of the Creator, helping to protect them from their enemies - mainly whale hunters from above and sharks and killer whales from below.

Of all mammals, whales are most completely at home in water, although they have to come up to the surface for air from time to time.  Rising to the surface, they blow out stale air from their lungs through “blowholes” on their backs.  These look like water spouts, shooting up 12 feet into the air.  Actually, it is their hot moist breath condensing as it hits the colder air above the water.

Humpbacks are in all oceans, but the greatest numbers are in the Pacific Ocean.  Many of these spend winters in the cold waters of Alaska and the Bering Sea where food is plentiful.  Their thick coat of blubber keeps them warm in these cold waters.  In spring they migrate, some to Mexico and some to Hawaii (distances of about 6000 miles).  Both places provide tropical waters where the females give birth to their calves, and shortly thereafter all return north.  In the Atlantic Ocean, similar migrations are made from northern Canadian waters to warm southern areas.  These migrations can be seen by people along those shores, just as they can be seen along the West Coast shores.

We may wonder how these large creatures know when it is time to leave for the southern waters and how they find their way over such great distances.  Like all creatures that migrate, they follow God-given instincts that guide and instruct them.

How much more important it is for us to know the way to heaven, for we can never get there by our own efforts.  The only way is by believing on the Lord Jesus Christ, who said, “I am the way, the truth, and the life” (John 14:6).  

Are you trusting in Him?

(To be continued in the next issue)

Love you all,

Grandpa         

Jewel # 174 (May 13, 2014)

“And they shall be Mine, saith the Lord of hosts,

in that day when I make up MY JEWELS.”

(Malachi 3:17)

To my dear grandchildren,

The Pretty Mink

“God said, let the earth bring forth the living creature

after his kind . . . and it was so . . .  and

God saw that it was good.”

(Genesis 1:24-25)

The mink is a pretty little animal with thick, glossy, dark-brown fur, but with a white patch on its chin, which often extends over its throat and chest.  It is only about 25-35 inches long, including its bushy tail, and weighs less than four pounds.  Beady black eyes, a long slender neck and small ears all add to its beauty and give it an alert appearance.  Its legs are short and its paws are equipped with razor-sharp claws.  Mink fur is waterproof.

Like its relative the weasel, its food is mostly fish, frogs, mice and other small animals, birds, eggs, muskrats and rabbits.   The Creator has equipped the mink with partially webbed hind feet to help in swimming and moving about underwater, as it searches for much of its food.

An excellent swimmer, a mink is equally at home on land or in water.  It prefers to make its home close to a stream or pond, sometimes in an abandoned animal burrow, inside a hollow log or under the roots of a tree.  If necessary, it will make its own burrow, about ten feet long and usually with two entrances.  One entrance may be underwater, but both open to a large den where four to ten kits are raised in the spring.

The mother mink nurses the kits for about five weeks and then adds some solid food for two more weeks, before taking them outside where she teaches them to find their own food.  She also teaches them how to protect themselves from owls, fox, lynx  and bobcats.  The kits playfully chase each other around, have mock battles and slide down banks into streams of water.  At other times they curl up like a ball and float down a stream just for fun.

An adult mink is a tough fighter, lightning-fast on its feet and using its needle-sharp teeth and claws affectively.  It also will spray an enemy with a strong unpleasant-smelling musk, which discourages the most vicious bobcat, fox or lynx foolish enough to attack.

During the winter, a mink continues hunting, its webbed feet helping in snow and and its sharp ears detecting the noise of mice below the surface.  It digs rapidly through the snow to capture the rodents that are otherwise quite safe.

Wild animals have no knowledge of their Creator and His constant care of them.  The Bible says, “O Lord, Thou preservest man and beast.  How excellent is Thy loving-kindness” (Psalm 36:6-7).  How important for us to notice that this includes mankind, just as the Bible tells us in many other places of His love and care for us.

Have you ever thanked Him for His loving-kindness?

Love you all,

Grandpa  

Jewel # 173 (May 4, 2014)

“And they shall be Mine, saith the Lord of hosts,

in that day when I make up MY JEWELS.”

(Malachi 3:17)

To my dear grandchildren.

The Lovely Manakins

“By Him were all things created, that are in heaven, and that are in earth, visible 

and invisible. . . . All things were created by Him, and for Him.”

(Colossians 1:16)

In the forests of Central and South America, from Mexico to Brazil and on nearby islands, there are over fifty species of the interesting manakins.  These birds are not much larger than swallows but are much more active.  The Creator has given them small, strong beaks that are slightly hooked on the ends.  They use them to pluck fruit from trees, as well as insects from the air while flying.  These items form their main food supply.

The more common manakins include those named long-tailed, swallow-tailed, white-bearded, golden-headed and blue-backed.   Their names describe each one’s general appearance.  They are also called jewel birds, perhaps because of the brilliant colouring of the males. The females, however, are mostly plain olive-green - a kind provision of the Creator so that they blend in with their surroundings while sitting on their nests or taking care of their young.

Female manakins have an unusual way of choosing mates.  Not all follow the same pattern, but many - particularly the white-bearded, golden-headed and blue-backed - put on a remarkable show.

A group of males selects an open area and removes twigs, leaves, grass and pebbles, exposing the bare ground in a large circle.  Females are drawn to the area by the loud calls of the males and look on from nearby branches.  The leading male first jumps hight in the air, hovering there with fluttering wings in from of a female and sometimes flying back and forth near her before dropping back to the ground.  Manakins’ movements are so fast they are invisible to human eyes. 

Then, one by one, the others jump into the air and perform the same way while making noises that sound like cats meowing.  In some groups, each male will make one hundred jumps or more moving faster and each time.  The females, in their excitement, hop up and down from perch to perch and then fly to the ground, selecting the males of their choice.  

Pairs soon fly off to build cup-shaped nests in trees or bushes where two eggs are laid in each nest and incubated for about three weeks.  After hatching, the young are cared for by only the mothers for another three or four weeks, until they are able to be on their own.

The Lord God found great pleasure in creating all living things, and we can be sure of His tender thoughts toward these lovely birds as He watches over them.  His eyes are lovingly on you too, inviting you to admit your need of having your sins forgiven and accepting Him as your Saviour.

Have you done this? 

Love you all,

Grandpa         

Jewel # 172 (April 23, 2014)

“And they shall be Mine, saith the Lord of hosts,

in that day when I make up MY JEWELS.”

(Malachi 3:17)

To my dear grandchildren,

The Lovely Finches

“He sendeth the springs into the valleys, which run among the hills. . . .

By them shall the fowls of the heaven have their habitation,

which sing among the branches.”

(Psalm 104:10,12)  

Finches live in all parts of the world except Australia.  Both Canada and the United States have great numbers of these small birds, with about one of every seven birds being a member of the finch family.

The finch most often seen in North America, the American goldfinch, is often called a wild canary.  This is because of its pretty yellow colouring that is so similar to the caged canaries people have as pets, and their chirping and songs sound just like the pet canaries too.  Actually, only the male is lemon yellow with a jet black cap, black wings and tail.  The female has a greenish-yellow body with black wings edged in white.  Both male and female are delightful little birds.

There are many other varieties of finches, since they are the largest family of birds.  One is the blue finch.  The male is bright blue with red and pink on its wings, while the female is plain brown on top and tan underneath.  The cactus finch, which makes its home in the Galapagos Islands, has the remarkable ability to move large stones to get at seeds and insects under them.  In Asia and Europe, birdwatchers love the little snow finches.  These are found mainly in the mountains.  They have pretty, light-blue heads, white throats and underparts, with brown and white wings.

Most finches have beautiful songs, especially when nesting.  They are primarily seedeaters and eat great quantities of weed seeds, with thistle seed being a favourite.  The Creator has given each variety sharp, pointed, cone-shaped bills, strong enough to crush seeds.  These birds, like chickens, have no teeth but swallow food whole.  Their gizzards, which contain grit, grind the food for digestion.  Crops in their throats store the undigested food for later use.

Females build cup-shaped nests so tightly woven that, if the parents don’t cover the nest during a rainstorm and rainwater gets in, the little chicks can sometimes drown.  The male’s responsibility is to keep his mate well fed while she is incubating the three to six eggs.

These birds are another example of the way the Creator has designed each creature for its way of life.  We may be sure, as our opening verse indicates, He not only delights in providing food and water for finches, but their lovely songs are pleasant to His ear as well.

Another Bible verse says, “All Thy works shall praise Thee, O Lord; and Thy saints shall bless Thee.  They shall speak of the glory of Thy kingdom, and talk of thy power” (Psalm 145:10,11).  Does He hear your voice praising Him?

Love you all,

Grandpa    

Jewel # 171 (April 11, 2014)

"And they shall be Mine, saith the Lord

of hosts, in that day when I

make up MY JEWELS.”

(Malachi 3:17)

To my dear grandchildren,

The Scary Crocodile

“Whatsoever the Lord pleased, that did He in heaven,

and in earth, in the seas, and all deep places.”

(Psalm 135:6)

The crocodile is the largest of all reptiles, including the huge snakes of South America.  There are twenty-five crocodile species throughout Africa, Asia, Australia and some Pacific islands, as well as in South and Central America and the Everglades of Florida.

Crocodiles are related to alligators but grow larger, have longer and more slender heads, and when their jaws are closed, large teeth show on each side, making an ugly grin.  The alligator’s  mouth doesn’t show these teeth unless it is open.  Crocodiles can live in saltwater as well as freshwater, and they are very sensitive to cold.  Crocodiles release heat through their mouth instead of sweating.

Perhaps you have seen crocodiles in a zoo and thought they were rather clumsy, but in the wild they are surprisingly fast on land, and in water their big tails and webbed hind feet move them along even more swiftly.  They are expert at swimming silently below the surface, snatching unsuspecting birds and small animals that are on the surface.  They are more aggressive than alligators.  

The Creator has adapted crocodiles to a watery life, providing a feature that closes nostrils, ears and throats when submerged, as well as keen eyesight - even after dark - with big, bulging  eyes.  Their bodies are covered with tough, leather-like armour.  Their jaws have sharp teeth, and their long tails serve as a fearful weapon.  When their loud roars bellow out and these weapons are in action, it is no wonder that they are one of the most feared of all reptiles!

A female crocodile lays about three dozen eggs in a sun-warmed trench that she has dug out with her tail.  She covers the eggs with sand or dirt and guards them, with time out only to search for food.  Disaster awaits any intruder that threatens to dig them up!  At the end of a month long incubation, as the little ones begin to hatch, her keen ears hear their sounds through the soil.  Uncovering them with her sharp claws, she picks up a dozen or more at a time in her mouth, without harming them, and carries them to water where she leaves them on their own.  The six-inch youngsters are quite capable of finding their own food, but most become victims of racoons, storks, cranes and even adult crocodiles, until they increase in size.  Out of three dozen, possibly only six or so may survive.

The crocodile has its place in God’s creation and is included - just as every person is - in the Bible verse: “Known unto God are all His works from the beginning of the world" (Acts 15:18).  However, the crocodile’s life is just for this world, whereas you and I have souls that live for eternity.  Can you say that “your life is hid with Christ in God” (Colossians 3:3) through faith in the Lord Jesus Christ? 

Love you all,

Grandpa